welcome to our viewers here in the united states and around the world. i'm george howell. >> and i'm natalie allen. you're watching cnn "newsroom." >> we start this hour in paris. the french president is condemning violent protests by taxi drivers over the on-line ride service, uber. >> yes. we will wait and see what this day brings. thousands of taxi drivers went on strike if paris thursday. stopping traffic with burning tires and blocking roadways with their cars. they say uber is unfairly and illegally stealing their business. >> a lot of chaos on the streets of paris. jim bittermann is there live with more. jim, good day to you. taxi drivers are complaining that ub are is stealing their business and the government seems to sympathize with them. >>. >> reporter: in fact george there is a complaint settled against uber pop basically